Expert: D. Norkus - 8/24/2010

Question
Hello, I am trying to learn as much as i can about the NTSB and more importantly accident investigation. I am on the verge of going back to school and want to gather input on what BS i should obtain. My long term goal is to be an accident investigator.
I Attended UND for 2 years and have my PPL and then went a different direction. I obtained an AAS and my A%26P. I have been working (as an A%26P) at a private FBO/service center for the last 5 years.

I am looking a ERAU but where i live they only offer a couple BS degrees. One of which is Professional aeronautics and i could minor in aviation safety. I am rambling a bit. My question i guess is; what is the best way to develop the skills/degree I would need to be considered for employment by the NTSB? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, M. West

Answer
Marshall

If you are looking at getting into a career at the NTSB, start with their careers page-
http://www.ntsb.gov/Abt_NTSB/HR/careers.htm

There are Field Investigators who go to the scene and others that work in offices or labs with what the Field Investigators have collected. Search the careers link to find the kind of positions they have available and what is required to get hired into them. Then you will best able to move forward with your education plan.

How to get that education?

You mentioned the Embry Riddle course. I minored in and got the ERAU 'Certificate of Safety', which had courses on accident investigation techniques. You can get the certificate as part of a degree program or on it's own. They also offer Extended Campus locations at hundreds of places outside their traditional campus locales in Prescott and Daytona. Note that the ERAU program is an Aviation Safety program and not specifically Accident Investigation, although that is a component of their course.

The NTSB Training Center (located on the campus of The George Washington University in Ashburn, VA) offers a range of courses each year to individuals. The Center was established to improve the training and skills of its own employees, and make its safety expertise more widely available to the diverse transportation community. Each class has it's own criteria on who will be admitted but many extend registration outside of those in the field already to "Members of the academic community attending for research purposes on a space-available basis".

The University of Southern California Aviation Safety and Security Program is also one of the premier places for A.I training-
http://viterbi.usc.edu/aviation/

If you are enrolled in a degree program, you may be able to participate in the NTSBs internship program. This may also help give you previous experience in the field which is required for many positions. Get details here-
http://www.ntsb.gov/vacancies/student_internships_AS.htm

Online learning is also offered via the Southern California Safety Institute/SCSI, specializing in Accident Investigation training and Safety Management Systems. This may very well fit your needs the best as it has a very specific focus and can be done from where you live. Get more information here-
http://www.scsi-inc.com/distance-learning.php

The NTSB isn't the only place with accident investigator careers. There are private companies that also hire field investigators like  
Safety Services International
http://www.safeserv.com/index.html

Other gov't agencies may have an opening that meets your interest if the NTSB doesn't currently have any openings.

FAA Office of Accident Investigation & Prevention-
The OAI promotes safety by investigating aviation accidents and incidents so as to detect unsafe conditions and trends in the National Airspace System and to coordinate the corrective action process, performs accident and incident data analysis, acts as the primary point of contact between the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), manages the NTSB Recommendations Program, the FAA Safety Recommendations Program, and operates the FAA Flight Data Laboratory.
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/avp/

All gov't jobs like FAA and NTSB are filled via USAjobs.gov

Other links of interest-
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/hangar-talk/37711-accident-investigator.html

Scroll down for the NTSB Major Investigations Manual in .pdf format-
http://www.ntsb.gov/abt_ntsb/invest.htm

Here is a career summary description from AvJobs that may be of interest-
http://www.avjobs.com/careers/detail.asp?RecID=123

International Society of Air Safety Investigators
Their 'Reachout Workshop' may be of interest-
http://www.isasi.org/reachout_tp.html

Part of a report that has some interesting info-
"Staffing, Workload & Training at the NTSB"
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1122.1/MR1122.1.ch5.pdf

Hope this helps,
Dottie